title: Predictive biochemical-markers for the development of brain metastases from lung cancer: clinical evidence and future directions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain metastases are a common complication of patients with lung cancer and lung cancer is one of the most common causes of brain metastases. The occurrence of brain metastases is associated with poor prognosis and high morbidity, even after intensive multimodal therapy. Therefore, identifying lung cancer patients with who are at high risk of developing brain metastases and applying effect intervention is important to reduce or delay the incidence of brain metastases. Biochemical-markers may meet an unmet need for following patients' mechanisms of brain metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this review were identified by searches of Pubmed and Cochrane databases, and references from relevant articles using the search terms "lung cancer" and "brain metastasis". Meeting abstracts, unpublished reports and review articles were not considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical results for pathological and circulating markers including cancer molecular subtypes, miRNA, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and other markers are presented. However, these biochemical-markers are not yet established surrogate assessments for prediction of brain metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biochemical-markers reported allowed physicians to identify which patients with lung cancer are at high risk for brain metastases. Prospective randomized clinical studies are needed to further assess the utility of these biochemical-markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xuenong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Brain metastases; Circulating markers; Lung cancer; Pathologic markers; Predictive value